Nearly 700 attendees-a record-breaking number-flocked to this year's Michigan in Perspective: The Local History Conference hosted by the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM). The conference was held in Sterling Heights on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, at the Sterling Inn and drew attendees from all over the state. A lineup of subjects and speakers expanded content and a new Saturday afternoon event combined to make the conference a roaring success.
"Our attendance was up by 35 percent," said HSM Executive Director Larry Wagenaar. "That increase is mainly due to the planning committee's efforts to create content that appeals to a diverse yet history-minded audience."
New for 2015 was the Saturday afternoon gala, "Loosening the Laces: The History of Michigan Told Through Fashion." This unprecedented event, presented by Fashion and the Automobile, brought together more than 60 reenactors and models to portray 300 years of Michigan's past.
"Our closing gala was a brand-new event for the conference," added Wagenaar. "From voyageurs and Woodland Indians to Civil War and World War I soldiers and civilians to flappers and Rosie the Riveter, the gala brought Michigan's history to life like never before."
The largest of the Society's three conferences, the Michigan in Perspective: The Local History Conference is open to anyone interested in state or regional history. The conference is held annually in the Wayne/Oakland/Macomb tri-county area. This year's major sponsors were Meijer, the Detroit Historical Society, and the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House.
The Society also hosts two other annual conferences: the Upper Peninsula History Conference and the Annual Meeting and State History Conference. This year's Upper Peninsula History Conference will be held June 26-28, in Ironwood, and the State History Conference will be held Sept. 25-27, in Saginaw.
The Historical Society of Michigan is the state's oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828 by territorial governor Lewis Cass and explorer Henry Schoolcraft. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations to preserve and promote Michigan's rich history.
Additional information can be found on HSM's website: www.hsmichigan.org.
Published: Tue, Mar 24, 2015
